BOXING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 July 1928, Page 3

BOXING.

PREPARING FOR, THE'BIG; EIGHT

HEENEY’S SPARRING PARTNERS,

ODDS FAVOUR THE CHAMPION (By Telegraph— loess Association.,

GISBORNE, July 24. In a further letter to Mr. Sise, the American radio amateur wlio transmits to Mr. O’Meara, Jack Heeney “ says: “Tom lias reduced his weight from 222 pounds to 203, and expects to get down to 200 lor tbe light. On Saturday Tom sparred six rounds eafcli with three specially' selected partners, one a- gooil mixer, another a straight-out boxer, and the third a mixture of both and who heat Battling Levinsky the previous week. Tom has six sparring partners, one coming and another going daily. With only four days before the fight, everyone is getting intensely excited except Tom, to whom the contest is merely another light. He is .very popular with everyone, and creates a fine impression on the many visitors daily. He is anxious to make the trip home, but is not In a position to consider the matter until after the fight. Everyone here says that Tom can win, but the majority of the newspapers favour Tunney. The odds a,re three to

one on the champion, but it is hard, to get money on at two to one. We are continually meeting New Zealanders, who call at the camp to make themselves known and to convey- best wishes.’’

RECORD ENTRIES RE'CEIVED

At the Town Hall, Stratford, on Friday and (Saturday- of this week the provincial amateur 'boxing championships come up for decision la® a (preliminary step >to Taranaki’s representation at the New Zealand amateur boxing championiships to ibe contested in Auckland. 'The programme comprises eight classes, for which 47 entries an average of six per class) have been received. Among the entrants are two New Zealand title holders in N. Roebuck, of New Plymouth (flyweight and bantamweight champion), and T. Donovan, of Waitara (featherweight champion), who were the only Taranaki representative's taking ■p’ai't in the Dominion contests last year. According to current reports, these men are at the to.p of their form, while other contestants in the same classes are also

said to he in such condition that will

enable them to keep the champions 'busy and, incidentally, .provide thrilling bouts for the ‘benefit of patrons of the manly art. Also included in the' lists arc the deservedly' popular A. Duggan (welterweight), of Normanhy, and N. Childs, the ‘Stratford bantamweight, who have on. previous occasions acquitted themselves s o creditably before the public as to ensure a large and interested following. As an indication of the solid support accorded by the rising generation to amateur boxing, it may be mentioned that tlie contestants for the provincial championships represent a very extensive radius from 'the convincing centre. *—from Waitara in the north to Patea

in the south, and from Tangarakau to Oakura. Entries for the initial championship contests at Stratford constitute a record for Taranaki, and it now only remains for the public, with a full measure of support, to make the fixture a complete success. On Saturday the victorious 'Stratford senior team meets

Inglewood in the last, match of the Rugby divisional championship, Ito the partisans of which the evening' session of the boxing tourney should round off

a good day’s outing. The Boxing Association lias been forImiale in securing the services of Mr W. R. Foley a’s referee.

Entries have been received as fol lows:—

Flyweight.—N. Roebuck 1 (New Plymouth), title holder; D. Roebuck (New Plymouth), V. Spavin (Uawera), J. Waterman.

Bantamweight.—N. Roebuck (New Plymouth), . title h-older; N. Childs (Stratford). R. Hayward (Unworn), A. Bibby (Unworn), Snowy Nut tie (Elthani)’, J. T. ’Thomas (Kapuni). Featherweight.—T. Donovan (Waitarn). title Holder; R. Havward (Iluwora); Cavanagh (New Plymouth), J. Brew (Uawera), L. Christensen (New Plymouth), G. Coombes (Taugarakau). Lightweight.— R. Midgley (Eltham), A. Karim (New'Plymouth), T. Sullivan (Stratford), R. •Cuff .(Stratford), T. French (lTawera). T. Donovan ('Waitara), A.. Duggan (Normanhy), D. Mercer (Baton), G. (Coombes (Tangarakau). Welterweight.—A. Karim (New Plvmouth), E. AY. Allendcn, T. Laurent. L B. Gilbert (Inglewood), L. Domb ro.sk i (; Waitara), 'A. Stockman (Ngaere), A. Duggan (Normanhy). Middleweight.— E. Griffin (Manaia), H. B. Gilbert (Inglewood). Af. Brosr.nn (Tangarakau). W. Brosnan (New Plymouth), L. Dombroski Waitara), 11. Irvine Waitara), (Scown Patea). Light Heavy weight. —L. O’Keefe (Midhurst), W. Brosnan (New Plymouth). R. 'Smith (Cardiff), V. Brosnan (Tangarakau), A. Goodwin Y'Oakura).

Heavyweight.—P. .Seaton (Tangararau), L. O’Keefe (Midhirst), R. 'Smith Cardiff).